A full and in-depth public consultation into the implementation of Project Champion – a network of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras east of Birmingham city centre – is to take place.
The announcement follows a meeting between the Safer Birmingham Partnership (SBP), West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council, to discuss concerns raised at recent public meetings, in local and national media and criticism about levels of consultation.
The initiative – financed by Association of Chief Police Officers’ (ACPO) Terrorism and Allied Matters (TAM) – is a network of 169 ANPR and 49 CCTV cameras predominantly in Sparkbrook and Washwood Heath. The project, which was supported by SBP for the wider crime reduction benefits it would bring to the area, will not now be switched on until the results of the public consultation are known and analysed. In addition, bags will be placed over the cameras to provide reassurance to local communities that footage is not being captured.
A joint statement on behalf of Assistant Chief Constable Suzette Davenport of West Midlands Police, Cllr Paul Tilsley, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council and Jackie Russell, Director of Safer Birmingham Partnership says:
“A number of issues have been raised in relation to Project Champion and we believe it is right to give local people a chance to express their views. We are hearing both positive and negative opinions and we need to formally capture these and report them back.”
“It is important that the facts surrounding the reasons for installing the cameras and the benefits they can bring are made clear. We completely accept that earlier consultation with councillors from Sparkbrook and Washwood Heath – the main focus of the project – should also have included elected representatives from all other areas affected. We also accept that we should have been more explicit about the role of the Counter Terrorism Unit in the initial project management of Champion. Although the Counter Terrorism Unit was responsible for identifying and securing central government funds, and have overseen the technical aspects of the installation, the camera sites were chosen on the basis of general crime data – not just counter terrorism intelligence.”
“Day to day management of the network was always intended to become the responsibility of local police. We apologise for these mistakes, which regrettably may have undermined public confidence in the Police and the Council. Public safety is a primary concern and, having seen the benefits that existing ANPR and CCTV networks have brought to other areas of Birmingham, we remain confident that the inclusion of these new sites will further reduce crime and anti-social behaviour at all levels.”
“Details of the length of the consultation and how members of the public can lodge their views will be announced shortly.”
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